A quiet word at a Christmas party blew the lid off a shocking slavery scam.

It allowed two farm labourers from Poland to be freed from a life of exploitation – and saw their predator jailed for eight years.

“Staff were enjoying themselves at the party in a pub when a couple of individuals confided in their line leader that they were being exploited,” said farmer John Hammond.

“That was on a Saturday night. We called in the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) and by Monday night the first individual was in protective custody and an investigation had begun.”

The second individual was also plucked out of a life of toil for no reward.

Nottingham Crown Court later heard that the men's landlord Sajmon Brzezinski had set up bank accounts to receive their wages first from Sport Direct in Shirebrook and later from Hammond Produce near Redhill.

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Brzezinski kept the bank cards, allowed his victims just £20 to £30 a week and plundered the rest for what he said were rent and utility bills. Over six years he took £106,000 from the second victim.

The two labourers have moved on but the Hammond family’s farm was an appropriate setting for the launch of a local initiative on National Anti-Slavery Day: a multi-organisation commitment to ridding Nottinghamshire of the modern forms of slavery that have seen vulnerable men, women and sometimes children exploited in fields as diverse as agriculture and nail bars, construction and the sex industry.

It is, as one police officer put it after the Brzezinski case, "a shocking crime that is happening in the midst of our towns and cities … and is hidden in plain sight".

Amid the autumn onslaught on this year’s root vegetable crop, representatives of local government, Nottinghamshire Police, the Church, business, charities and the University of Nottingham – home of the Rights Lab, commissioned to study the slavery challenge – attended the event.

They agreed that one of the priorities should be training managers, workforces and the public in recognising signs of exploitation.

Det Chief Insp Nick Waldram, head of the Nottinghamshire Police modern slavery team, said: “Things to look out for include large groups of people in houses, perhaps isolated from other people in the community. Their health hygiene, the way they dress and long hair could be other indications.” (See footnote.)

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A sensitive workplace culture also helps. John Hammond added: “I think we created an environment that gave the men confidence to raise the matter with their line leader. We have Stronger Together material on the backs of toilet doors so the men can read it in private if they wish.”

So how widespread is modern slavery? Rights Lab director Prof Zoe Trodd quotes the UN estimate of 40.3 million people worldwide, defined as slaves by virtue of being paid nothing and being unable to escape their circumstances.

The Rights Lab’s research over the next five years is aimed at helping to end global slavery by 2030. An interim report will be published on November 9.

But what about the UK figures? The Home Office estimates 13,000, most of them trafficked from overseas, with 4,000 new victims identified every year. That is a 300 percent increase over six years.

Hammond Produce, Redhill

In Nottinghamshire, numbers are also rising. In 2015-16, nine crimes were recorded. Between March and September this year, the figure was 35. Some commentators feel an increase in reporting may have something to do with a growing belief that the authorities - the GLAA and police forces – will respond thoroughly.

However, action is also being taken elsewhere. More training is planned for front-line public employees, community representatives and bank tellers.

Nottinghamshire Police are mounting enforcement operations – with a current emphasis on car wash teams. And the Salvation Army, which has safe houses in the Nottingham area, states: “We are in this fight for as long as it takes for the war to be won.”

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John Robinson, chief executive of Gedling Borough Council and chairman of Nottingham and Notts Modern Slavery Partnership, said: “Today we are launching a campaign to eradicate slavery in the region, which in 2017, nearly 200 years after slavery was abolished in the British Empire, is quite extraordinary.

“We will commit to working closely with the police and our local partners to raise awareness of the plight of the people affected by this and to do everything in our power to stop modern slavery in Nottinghamshire.”

Footnote: The Modern Slavery Helpline has been set up to enable the public to report anything suspicious. The number is 08000 121700.

Church network can help rescue the vulnerable, says bishop

High-level supporters of the campaign against modern slavery include Notts Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping, Gedling MP Vernon Coaker and the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Rt Rev Paul Williams.

Mr Coaker, new co-chair of the all-party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery, said: “A lot of progress has been made but more needs to be done, in particular to support victims of trafficking.”

Bishop Paul said the Church was ideally placed to help, being one of the few organisations to have a presence in every community.

“The knowledge that churches and faith communities have of their local neighbourhoods means that if we come into contact with victims it is vital that we recognise the signs and know what to do about it,” he said. “This may be the only chance a vulnerable individual has of being rescued.”

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Southwell and Nottingham is one of the 16 Anglican dioceses that have already signed up to the Clewer Initiative, a three year Church of England programme to help support victims of modern slavery and identify signs of exploitation.

The initiative was launched this week with the support of the Prime Minister, Theresa May.

She said: “I welcome the focus on engaging with local communities to help them spot signs of modern slavery. We need to shine a light on this hidden crime and encourage more victims to come forward so that we can provide them with the support they need.”